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Abstract:

The invention relates to the mechanical inversion of direction of a
rotating control component of a landscape sprinkler device. Such a
device, having a switching member with end stops associated therewith in
both pivoting directions the control component, against said stops the
switching member stops and is actuated, wherein at least one end stop can
be adjusted coaxially with respect to a pivoting axis of the control
component. According to the invention the switching member is configured
in an elastically resilient manner on the contact region (6) thereof that
is positioned at the height of the end stops (10, 11) such that the
contact region retreats back from the adjusting path of the end stop in
case of an overload, and means (14) are provided in order to re-establish
the contact region at a defined position in the rotation angle region
between the two end slops from the retreated position.

Claims:

1. Device for the mechanical reversal of direction of a rotatable control
component of a landscape watering device with a switching member with
which are associated, in both directions of rotation of the control
component, end stops at which the switching member stops and is actuated,
where at least one end stop can be adjusted coaxially with respect to an
axis of rotation of the control component, characterized by the fact
that, in its contact area (6) positioned at the level of the end stops
(10, 11), the switching member is implemented elastically in such a
manner that in case of an overload the contact area (6) withdraws from
the adjustment path of the end stop (10, 11) and that means (14) are
provided to once again lift up the contact area (6) from the withdrawn
position at a defined position in the rotation angle range between the
two end stops (10, 11).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the
contact area (6) of the switching member is implemented to be elastically
resilient as a function of force.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that a load
limit of the contact area (6), specifically a load limit in which the
contact area (6) yields elastically, is greater than a load required for
switching the switching member.

4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by the fact that a
load limit of the contact area (6), specifically a load limit at which it
yields elastically, is greater than a load limit at which an overload
safety device (21 to 24) between the rotatable control component (2) and
a stationary housing part (3) yields.

5. Device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the
switching member comprises a tillable switching pin which is provided
with the elastically resilient contact area (6).

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that the
switching pin is disposed eccentrically with respect to an axis of
rotation of the control component (2) and that the contact area (6)
projects axially into at least one stationary functional part (4, 5)
which flanks the contact area (6) both radially inwards and radially
outwards.

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that an end
stop (10, 11) is associated with the stationary functional part (4, 5).

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the
stationary functional part is formed as an adjusting ring (4, 5) which
can be adjusted with respect to the housing part (3) and can be arrested
in various adjustment positions.

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that there is
provided, adjacent to the first adjusting ring (4) and as an additional
functional part, an additional adjusting ring (5) which can be adjusted
with respect to the housing part (3) and can be arrested in various
adjustment positions.

10. Device according to claims 8 and 9, characterized by the fact that
the contact area (6) projects axially into both adjusting rings (4, 5)
and the additional adjusting ring (5) is provided with the second end
stop (11).

11. Device according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that both
adjusting rings (4, 5) are implemented with identical construction and
are mounted in installation positions which are reversed with respect to
one another.

12. Device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the
control component (2) provides in the vicinity of the contact area (6)
and on both sides a bent lug (9) as well as a deflection area in which
the contact area (6) is positioned in its elastically bent deflection
position.

13. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized by the fact that the means for lifting up the contact area
(6) comprise at least one radial recess in the radial flanking area of
the at least one functional part (4, 5), where that radial recess is
dimensioned so that the contact area in its elastically curved deflection
position can, at the level of the recess (14), due to its elastic
restoring force lift up into its unloaded starting position.

14. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized by the fact that the contact area is formed by a spring
element (6), preferably by a helical spring.

15. Landscape watering device with a rotatable control component and a
stationary housing part with a device for the mechanical reversal of
direction of the control component according to at least one of the
preceding claims.

Description:

[0001] The invention relates to a device for the mechanical reversal of
direction of a rotatable control component of a landscape watering device
with a switching member with which are associated, in the two directions
of rotation of the control component, end stops at which the switching
member stops and is actuated, where at least one end stop can be adjusted
coaxially with respect to an axis of rotation of the control component,
as well as a landscape watering device of this type. A device of this
type is known from EP 186 4717 A2. It is problematic in devices of this
type that improper operations can lead to damage of parts of the device.
In addition to this, improper adjustments of the end stops can lead to
controlled watering operation no longer being possible.

[0002] It is the object of the invention to provide a device which is of
the type stated in the introduction and combines security against
vandalism with high functional reliability.

[0003] This object is realized by the fact that, in its contact area
positioned at the level of the end stops, the switching member is
implemented elastically in such a manner that in case of an overload the
contact area withdraws from the adjustment path of the end stop and that
means are provided to once again lift up the contact area from the
withdrawn position at a defined position in the rotation angle range
between the two end stops. With the realization according to the
invention damage to parts of the device and in particular damage to the
switching member is prevented. In addition to this, malfunctions are
prevented since the means for the lifting up are implemented in such a
manner that the contact area always emerges between the two end stops
which cause the reversal of direction of the switching member. The
realization according to the invention is suitable for rectangular rain
guns whose control components have an approximately horizontal axis of
rotation as well as for rain guns or sprinklers with a vertically aligned
axis of rotation such as in particular so-called pop-up sprinklers.

[0004] In an embodiment of the invention the contact area of the switching
member is implemented to be elastically resilient as a function of force.
Thus the contact area only withdraws elastically resiliently beginning at
a defined load limit In this way additional functions can be assigned to
the contact area. Preferably the elastic withdrawal is accomplished by
bending. Through the force-dependent bending it is possible to define a
type of loading at which certain functions occur.

[0005] The contact area is preferably implemented as an elastically
bendable spring element. In the unloaded position the spring element is
stable in form and preferably implemented to be linear. On an overshoot
of the corresponding load limit the spring element bends elastically. The
necessary force or load at which the spring element bends is reached with
the invention first by a correspondingly shaped bent lug at the adjacent
functional part of the device and second by the physical characteristics
of the spring element, where in particular its spring constant and its
shape are determinative.

[0006] In an additional embodiment of the invention a load limit of the
contact area, specifically a load limit at which the contact area yields
elastically, is greater than a load required for switching the switching
member. In this way it is ensured that the contact area is formed so
rigidly or stably in form that it fulfills the function of switching the
switching member in a functionally reliable manner.

[0007] In an additional embodiment of the invention a load limit of the
contact area, specifically a load limit at which it yields elastically,
is greater than a load limit at which an overload safety device between
the rotatable control component and a stationary housing part yields.
Preferably the device according to the invention comprises an overload
coupling which provides for decoupling a transmission for turning the
control component when there is an overload. An overload safety device of
this type prevents destruction of the transmission in case of improper
operation or in case of unforeseen blocking of the control component.
Through the described development it is possible during turning of the at
least one end stop to entrain in that turning the housing part in which
the switching member, and accordingly also the transmission, are housed.

[0008] In an additional embodiment of the invention the switching member
comprises a tiltable switching pin which is provided with the elastically
resilient contact area. The switching pin projects preferably from the
device's housing part which includes the transmission. Preferably the
elastically resilient contact area is provided at a free end area of the
switching pin. The switching pin is, in an advantageous manner,
implemented as a rocking lever acting on a switching rocker, where the
rocking lever is rigidly connected to the switching rocker. A tilting of
the rocking lever thus necessarily leads to a switching of the switching
rocker functioning as a switch valve.

[0009] In an additional embodiment of the invention the switching pin is
disposed eccentrically to an axis of rotation of the control component
and the contact area projects axially into at least one stationary
functional part which flanks the contact area both radially inwards and
radially outwards. In this way it is ensured that the contact area cannot
deflect, either inwards or outwards.

[0010] In a particularly advantageous manner the functional part comprises
an annular groove into which the contact area projects and which flanks
the contact area both radially inwards and radially outwards.

[0011] In an additional embodiment of the invention an end stop is
associated with the stationary functional part. The at least one
stationary functional part is understood to mean a functional part which
in the watering operation of the device remains stationary with respect
to the rotatable control component. However, it is possible to adjust the
functional part in order to adjust the at least one end stop. In addition
to its adjustment capability the stationary functional part is provided
with an arresting mechanism, preferably in the form of a detent, which
ensures stationary positioning in the watering operation of the device.

[0012] In an additional embodiment of the invention the stationary
functional part is formed as an adjusting ring which can be adjusted with
respect to the housing part and can be arrested in various adjustment
positions. The adjusting ring can be turned coaxially with respect to the
axis of rotation of the control component.

[0013] In an additional embodiment of the invention there is provided,
adjacent to the first adjusting ring and as an additional functional
part, an additional adjusting ring which can be adjusted with respect to
the housing part and can be arrested in various adjustment positions.

[0014] In an additional embodiment of the invention the contact area
projects axially into both adjusting rings and the additional adjusting
ring is provided with the second end stop. The two adjusting rings thus
comprise the two end stops for the contact area in order to be able to
effect the switching of the switching member. Preferably both adjusting
rings are provided with annular groove sections so that in the watering
operation of the device the movement of the contact area between the end
stops is in annular grooves which are in the adjusting rings and are
coaxially adjacent to one another.

[0015] In an additional embodiment of the invention both adjusting rings
are implemented with identical construction and are mounted in
installation positions which are reversed with respect to one another. In
this way it is possible to make both adjusting rings of plastic in the
same tool mold. The production costs can be kept low in this way.

[0016] In an additional embodiment of the invention the control component
provides in the vicinity of the contact area a bent lug as well as a
deflection area in which the contact area is positioned in its
elastically bent deflection position. The bent lug and the deflection
area make possible a defined bending of the contact area, in particular
of the spring element and a defined positioning of the spring element in
the bent deflection position so long as the spring element still has not
reached the area at which it can lift up once again.

[0017] In an additional embodiment of the invention the means for lifting
up the contact area comprise at least one radial recess in the radial
flanking area of the at least one functional part, where that radial
recess is dimensioned so that the contact area in its elastically bent
deflection position can, at the level of the recess, due to its elastic
restoring force lift up into its unloaded starting position. The recess
is preferably provided adjacent to an end stop of the functional part on
the end stop's side at which the contact area stops at the end stop in
normal watering operation.

[0018] In an additional embodiment of the invention the contact area is
formed by a helical spring. Preferably the helical spring is provided
with a close spiral and is coordinated in its dimensioning with a
diameter of the switching pin in such a manner that the helical spring
can be plugged by its end area onto a tip of the switching pin in a
force-locking manner.

[0019] Additional advantages and features of the invention follow from the
claims and from the following description of a preferred embodiment
example of the invention, said embodiment example being presented the aid
of the figures.

[0020] FIG. 1 shows in an exploded representation a form of embodiment of
a landscape watering device with a mechanism according to the invention
and for the mechanical reversal of direction of a rotatable control
component,

[0021] FIG. 2 shows another exploded representation of the device
according to FIG. 1 but from a different perspective,

[0022] FIGS. 2a and 3b show an enlarged detailed view of the device in two
different operating positions,

[0023] FIGS. 3a to 3d show, in different operating positions, a part of
the device according to FIGS. 1 and 2,

[0024] FIG. 4 shows a partially cut-open representation of the device
according to FIGS. 1 and 2 in enlarged perspective representation,

[0025] FIG. 5 shows a perspective, cut-open exploded representation of the
device according to FIGS. 1 and 2, and

[0026] FIG. 6 shows the device according to FIG. 5 from a different
perspective.

[0027] A landscape watering device according to FIGS. 1 to 6 is
implemented as a rain gun in a functional position with approximately
vertical axis of rotation. The landscape watering device 1 represents a
so-called pop-up rain gun. The rain gun comprises a rain gun head 2 which
is formed as a rotatable control component in the sense of the invention.
The rain gun comprises in addition to this a stationary housing part 3
which is provided in the operating mode with a stand for secure
positioning on the ground underneath. The rain gun head 2 forms a housing
part which comprises on its upper side a water outlet nozzle as well as a
transmission known in principle. The transmission is a speed reduction
transmission which reduces the rotational motion of a rapid turbine
wheel, through which there is a corresponding water flow, to a
correspondingly slower rotational motion of the control component, that
is, the rain gun head 2. A water jet flows through the turbine wheel
approximately radially in a manner known in principle, said water jet
being conducted through one of two nozzle outlets at a distance from one
another. In alternation one of the two nozzle outlets is always closed by
the switching member so that the water jet strikes the turbine wheel
through one or the other nozzle outlet in alternation. The nozzle outlets
are disposed at a distance from one another in such a manner that the
rotational

[0028] direction of the turbine wheel changes depending on which nozzle
outlet is open. The transmission comprises on its output side away from
the turbine wheel a planetary pinion 18 (FIGS. 4 and 5) which meshes with
a stationary circumferential toothing 19 of the housing part 3. Through
the meshing of the planetary pinion 18 and the rotatable positioning of
the rain gun head 2 with respect to the stationary housing part 3 the
rain gun head 2 is turned in operation of the landscape watering device
by the water pressure always present and the water jet striking the
turbine wheel.

[0029] In order to effect a reversal of direction of the turbine wheel and
consequently of the rain gun head 2 the switching member, which is not
represented in more detail, is implemented as a switching rocker, and
always closes one of the two nozzle outlets, is provided with a switching
pin which projects downwards approximately parallel to the axis of
rotation of the rain gun head 2 and towards the housing part 3. The
switching pin is provided at its tip with an elastically resilient
contact area in the form of a spring element 6 which is represented in
the figures. In the embodiment example represented the spring element 6
is formed as a closely wound helical spring which is plugged onto a tip
of the switching pin in a force-locking and thus positionally secured
manner and/or in a form-locking or material locking manner to the tip of
the contact pin. In the unloaded rest position of the spring element 6 it
is extended linearly as an extension of the switching pin. In its normal
functional position the spring element 6 is set obliquely, analogously to
the switching pin, since the switching rocker is always held in an open
position of one of the two nozzle outlets by a spring loading mechanism
not represented in more detail.

[0030] In order to switch the switching pin and consequently the spring
element 6, that is, to tilt it into the other switching position, two
stationary functional parts in the form of adjusting rings 4, 5 are
associated with the spring element 6 in the area of the housing part 3.
Both adjusting rings 4, 5 are implemented in plastic and identically to
one another and mounted in installation positions reversed with respect
to

[0031] one another and with respect to the rain gun head 2 or to the
housing part 3. Both adjusting rings 4, 5 are provided on the outer side
with a ribbing in order to enable simple manual adjustment by an
operator. Both adjusting rings 4, 5 comprise an inner ring, each with a
toothing section 12. During mounting the two toothing sections 12 are
plugged onto an annular projecting profiling 13 together with the
corresponding inner rings. The projecting profiling 13 is a single-piece
part of the housing part 3, as can be seen with the aid of FIGS. 1, 5,
and 6. The engagement acting between the toothing sections 12 and the
projecting profiling 13 is implemented so that manual turning of the
adjusting rings 4, 5 in the circumferential direction is enabled.
However, at the same time the engagement is also so stable that the two
adjusting rings 4, 5 remain in the stationary functional positions during
rotation of the rain gun head 2 and a stopping of the switching pin and
thus the spring element 6 at the subsequently described end stops.

[0032] Each adjusting ring 4, 5 comprises coaxial to its inner ring a
respective annular groove 15, 16 which is bounded radially outwards by an
annular flange which projects on the radial inner side from an outer ring
forming the ribbing. The annular groove 15, 16 has a width so large that
the spring element 6 of the switching member can project though both
annular grooves 15, 16 with little radial play when the rain gun is fully
mounted. Thus during rotation of the rain gun head 2 the spring element 6
can migrate in the annular space formed by the annular groove 15, 16.

[0033] In order to limit the rotational movement of the rain gun head 2
and to cause a reversal of the direction of rotation, each of the
adjusting rings 4, 5 comprises a respective end stop 10, 11 which
projects axially into the annular groove and thus into the annular space.
One defines as a function of the position of the adjusting rings 4, 5
with respect to one another the length of the circular arc over which the
spring element 6 can sweep during a rotational movement of the rain gun
head 2 within the annular groove 15, 16 before it stops at the respective
end stop.

[0034] The stability of form of the spring element 6 is designed so that
the spring element 6 during a stop at one of the two end stops 10, 11
remains in its unbent, elongated starting position and is only tilted to
the other side, whereby the switching rocker of the switch element is
pivoted and the other nozzle outlet is closed. Thus the desired reversal
of direction for the rain gun head 2 necessarily results and consequently
the device's landscape watering resulting over a defined pivot range.

[0035] In order to prevent a malicious manual turning of the rain gun 2
beyond this pivot range defined by the annular groove from leading to
damage of the switching member, the end of the switching pin, namely the
contact area formed by the spring element 6 and coming into contact with
the end stops, is implemented to be elastically resilient. For this
purpose bent lugs 9 are provided on the housing of the rain gun head 2 on
both sides of the spring element 6, said bent lugs being implemented as
radially outwardly projecting flanges. These flanges correspond to guide
flanges 7 which are distributed over the circumferential face of the rain
gun head 2, project radially outwards from an inner ring, and serve to
support and guide the adjusting ring 4. On the housing part 3
corresponding guiding and supporting flanges 8 are provided which serve
to support and guide the lower adjusting ring 5. The flanges forming the
bent lugs 9 have a smaller axial height than the flanges 7. Along with
this the flanges forming the bent lugs 9 are implemented lower by
approximately a distance which corresponds to the diameter of the spring
element 6. During a bending of the spring element 6 over the
corresponding bent lug 9 a deflection

[0036] area is thus formed into which the bent part of the spring element
6 can project without being axially in the way of the adjacent adjusting
ring 4. Obviously neither of the two end stops 10, 11 can project axially
into this deflection area. The end stops 10, 12 [sic, 11] end with their
corresponding annular sections necessarily at the facing boundary edges
of the flanges 7 so that turning of the rain gun head 2 with respect to
the adjusting ring 4 is not prevented. As soon as the spring element 6 is
thus bent out according to FIG. 2b, the rain gun head 2 can also be
turned beyond the corresponding end stop 10, 11 of the respective
adjusting ring 4, 5. The spring element 6 remains in its bent position in
the deflection area below the bent lug 9. The spring element 6 cannot
deflect upwards since it is bound by the inwardly projecting annular
flange of the adjusting ring 4. In addition to this, in each of the two
tilt positions a supporting edge 17 prevents the spring element 6 from
deflecting radially inwards in the bent position. Thus the spring element
6 remains in a defined bent position while the rain gun head 2 is turned
out over the corresponding end stop 10. The corresponding operating
positions can be seen clearly with the aid of FIGS. 3a to 3d. In FIG. 3a
the spring element 6 and also the switching member are in a normal
operating position. By the appropriate turning of the rain gun head 2 the
spring element 6 is brought near to the end stop 10 and strikes it
according to FIG. 3b. In so doing, the switching member is necessarily
switched over so that the direction of rotation of the turbine wheel
would change. Then if the rain gun head 2 is manually turned further
(FIG. 3c) in the previous direction (FIG. 3b), the spring element 6
bends. As soon as the manual load is taken away, the rain gun head 2
turns back into the direction of the end stop 10 due to the switching
process previously executed. In order to enable lifting up of the spring
element 6 as soon as the spring element 6 has once again reached its
normal operational pivot area, there is provided adjacent to the end stop
10

[0037] a recess 14 which is aligned radially outwards and thereby
interrupts the annular flange lying radially outwards. This recess 14 is
dimensioned to be so large that the spring element 6 can lift axially
upwards through this recess 14. Since the rain gun head 2 moves further
in this direction due to the previously executed switch-over process, the
spring element 6 necessarily arrives in the annular groove 15 after the
lifting up. Thus the spring element 6 is once again located in the
previously described annular space and in its predefined pivot range so
that the normal turning of the rain gun head 2 and the correspondingly
set reversal of direction can once again be taken in accordance with the
defined pivot range. The recess 14 is provided on a side of the end stop
10, specifically the side facing the other, corresponding end stop of the
other adjusting ring. In this way it is ensured that, regardless in which
direction it is bent, the spring element 6 always emerges once again in
the annular groove in the pivot range which corresponds to the pivot
range in normal operation.

[0038] The form of embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 6 ensures in
addition that with proper turning of the adjusting rings 4, 5 for setting
a new pivot angle of the rain gun the rain gun head 2 is entrained in the
turning. In order to avoid bending out of the spring element 6, the
rigidity of the spring element 6 is dimensioned to be so large that a
subsequently described overload coupling between the rain gun head 2 and
the housing part 3 is released before the spring element 6 is deflected
by bending. The overload coupling between the rain gun head 2 and the
housing part 3 can be seen with the aid of FIGS. 4 to 6 and is already
known in principle in itself. The overload coupling comprises an axially
movable guide sleeve 23 on which the toothing 19 is formed with which the
planetary pinion 18 of the rain gun head 2 meshes. The coupling sleeve 23
is mounted so that it can move axially and rotatably in the housing part
3. The coupling

[0039] sleeve 23 comprises on its apical edge lying away from the toothing
19 an apical toothing 20 which engages in a corresponding catch mechanism
22 on an annular flange of the housing part 3. In addition to this, in
the mounted state the coupling sleeve 23 lies coaxially over a journal 21
which projects out upwards via the coupling sleeve 23. In an area of the
journal 21, specifically the area projecting out upwards via the coupling
sleeve 23, a spiral coiled spring 24 is pushed coaxially onto the journal
21, said spiral coiled spring being secured axially to the journal 21 by
a securing ring 25. The spiral coiled spring 24 is supported axially on
the upper apical edge of the coupling sleeve 23 in the area of the
toothing 19. The coupling sleeve 23 is thus pressed downwards by the
spiral coiled spring 24 so that the apical toothing 20 is pressed against
the catch mechanism 22 and the coupling sleeve 23 is thus positioned. The
journal 21 is supported axially on a side of the annular flange of the
housing part 3, specifically the side facing away from the catch
mechanism 22. The apical toothing 20 and the corresponding catch
mechanism 22 are provided with tooth chamfer corresponding in such a
manner that for higher torque the coupling sleeve 23 is turned against
the compressive force of the spiral coiled spring 24. Thereby the apical
toothing 20 and the catch mechanism 22, i.e. their teeth corresponding to
one another, go out of engagement, whereby also the transmission coupling
between the housing part 3 and the rain gun head 2 is disengaged.

[0040] The rigidity of the spring element 6 is so great that with proper
adjustment of the adjusting rings 4, 5 the previously described overload
coupling disengages as soon as one of the end stops 10, 11 strikes the
spring element 6 so that the rain gun head 2 is turned together with the
adjustment of the corresponding adjusting ring 4, 5. The load limit at
which the spring element 6 bends is thus higher than the load limit
beginning at which the previously described overload coupling go out of
engagement. The coordination of the load limits can be accomplished in a
simple manner by coordination of the shape of the

[0041] spiral coiled spring 24 on the one hand and the shape and the
choice of material of the spring element 6 on the other hand.

Patent applications by Thomas Renner, Ulm DE

Patent applications by GARDENA MANUFACTURING GMBH

Patent applications in class DISTRIBUTOR CONTINUOUSLY MOVES RELATIVE TO SUPPORT DURING SPRAYING

Patent applications in all subclasses DISTRIBUTOR CONTINUOUSLY MOVES RELATIVE TO SUPPORT DURING SPRAYING